A STOCKPORT man is to help bring war criminals to justice in Sierra Leonne, with a $50 million budget from the United Nations.

Former court administrator Robin Vincent is to swap his comfortable Bramhall home for the basic conditions of Freetown in Sierra Leonne, where he has been appointed to set up a UN war crimes tribunal.

Expected to last three years, the 'special court' will deal with atrocities committed by military and RFU rebel leaders (Revolutionary United Forces) during the country's ten-year civil war, from 1991 - 2001.

Robin, of Grange Road, Bramhall, will get $16 million-a-year to build and then manage a court house and detention centre on a 12-and-a-half-acre plot, starting later this month.

The 58-year-old father-of-two has already proved he is the man for the job - he was awarded a CBE in the 2001 New Year's Honours List after being commissioned to troubleshoot problems in the management of a UN war crimes tribunal in Rwanda, which was dealing with around 50 criminals implicated in the 1994 genocide.

He previously worked in the UK courts for 39 years, and since 1993 managed the North West's 32 major courts as a regional circuit administrator.

He was ultimately responsible for running Preston Crown Court during the Jamie Bulger and Harold Shipman trials.

Now appointed Assistant to the UN Secretary General in Sierra Leone, Robin is looking forward to the challenge, though he will be keeping his wits about him in the war-torn region.

He said: "There are a number of people who have been mutilated in the war there and who have watched their families raped and murdered and their homes damaged, who may not want old wounds to be opened up. And there are others who simply do not believe justice can be done.

"One of the major tasks we have over there will be outreach to local people to integrate and educate them about the process, so that we are not seen as an ivory castle on a hill handing out international justice."

Trials of around 20 alleged war criminals are due to start in July at the 'special court', where three jdges will deal with around 20 top level leaders thought to be responsible for some of the worst atrocities.

Lower courts will give lesser offenders the option of being rehabilitated back into society.

When he is at home, Robin is a keen member of Stockport Georgians Cricket Club along with his two sons, Mark, 30, and Stephen, 28.

They will stay in the UK with Robin's wife, Hazel, who is a part-time assistant at Nevill Road Junior School in Bramhall.